Drawbar



W. S. FIX

June 14, 1932.

DRAWBAR Filed June 25, 1928- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 14, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM S. FIX, F FINLEY, WASHINGTON DRAWBAR Application filed June 23,

7 structed that each car equipped with a drawbar structure will pull only its own load.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind including a plurality of springs of such tension or strength to sustain the pulling load of each car of the train in order that the springs of one car will not be compelled to pull the load of another car.

With these and other objects in View, this invention resides in the novel features of construction, formation, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of several cars showing the same equipped with the device.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a modified form of the invention.

Each car 1 has fixed to the bottom thereof and adjacent each end a casing 2, said casing consisting of sides and ends 3 and 4, respectively. Brackets 5 may be used for attaching the casing to the car bottom.

Having their ends supported in the ends 4 are bolts 6, a pair of which are shown, it being of course understood that the number may be increased if desired.

An intermediate partition 7 is employed 0 and has its ends fixed to the sides 8, said partition having a central opening formed therein which is alined with the openings 9 of the ends 4. A coupling rod 10 is slidable in these openings and has its ends provided with coupling heads 11 of conventional type.

The coupling rod of each car is provided with keys 12 and 13-18, the former being movable in the opening 8 of the partition 7 while the latter move in the opening 9 of the ends 4. Disposed upon the opposite sides of the partition 7 are plates 14, there being 192 8. Serial No. 287,727.

similar-plates 15 disposed adjacent each end 4; All of the plates 14 and 15 project over the openings in the ends of the casings and in the partitions thereof through which the coupling rod slides and serves to prevent accumulation of dirt from the road bed within the caslngs. Coil springs 16 encircle the bolts 6 and have their ends bearing against the plates 14 and 15, there being a similar spring 17 encircling the coupling rod 10 and having its ends also bearing against the plates 14 and 15. The plates 15 are provided with openings 18.which are alined with the openings 19 of the plates 14, and it is through these openings that the coupling rod 10 slides. These plates are provided with openings 20 and 21 to accommodate the bolts 6.

. It will be observed that owing to the presence of the keys 12 and 13 that when the rod 10 is moved to the right the plates 15 at the left and the plates 14 on the right side of the partition will be. moved, thus compelling all i of thesprings to be compressed to absorb the shock incident to the movement of the cars. The first movement of the rod will slide the plates 14 and 15. located upon the left hand sides of the partition 7 and ends 4.

It will be obvious that when a series of cars are coupled the rods 10, form in effect, a continuous draft rod throughout the train. Thus the load of individual cars will be imparted to the springs 16 and 17 thereof. Therefore, the springs carriedby each car need only be strong enough to haul its own load. It will be further observed that by providing a draw-bar constructed in the manner described and illustrated that all shocks due to the starting or stopping of the train will be absorbed.

p In Figure 51 have illustrated a modified form of invention which is designed for use as a hitch for any purpose desired, and it consists of a pair of end plates 21 for slidably supporting the outer bolts 22 and intermediate bolts 23, there being coil springs 24 encircling the bolts 22 and. have their ends resting against the plates 21. A clevis 25 is secured to the ends of the bolts 22 while a clevis 26 is secured to the bolts 23. It will be apparent that when strain is applied to either push or pull a device the plates will move according to the direction in which the device is operated, thereby compressing the springs.

From the foregoing, it is though that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will be. apparent to those skilled in the art, without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape and proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the'advantages of the invention. 7

A device constructed in accordance with my invention is not necessarily limited to'the use specified, but can be used with equal success in connection with trailers, or any other device wherein a balanced drawbar is applicable.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A draft appliance comprising a pair of casings, a central partition in each casing, a coupling rod extending longitudinally between the casings and having the ends terminating in coupling heads, said ends slidably passing through openings in the end walls of both casings and through openings in the central partitions of both casings, plates disposed on opposite sides of the partitions of both casings, plates disposed adjacent to both end walls of each casing, all of said plates projecting over the openings in said end walls and the openings invsaid partitions through which said coupling rod passes and preventing access of dirt to the interior of the casing, bolts extending longitudinally through each casing and securedat the ends to the end walls thereof, helical springs disposed on said bolts and on said coupling rod on both sides of each partition in each casing and bearing against said plates, and keys on the coupling rod engaging all of said plates and adapted to move the plates and cause the springs to oppose each other on opposite sides of the partitions during movement of the coupling rod.

2. A device of the class described comprising a casing for attachment to each end of a car, bolts fixed in the casings, a train length coupling rod extending between the casings and slidable therein, plates in the casings slidably engaged on the bolts, coil springs encircling the bolts, coil springs encircling the coupling rod, all of said coil springs having their ends engaged with said plates, and wedges carried by the coupling rod for engagement with the plates to move the plates to compress the springs when the coupling rod is moved longitudinally.

A device of the class described comprising a casing for attachment to each end of a car, bolts fixed in the casings, plates mounted in pairs in each casing and slidably engaged rod for engaging the plates to move the plates to compress the springs when the coupling rod is moved in opposite directions longitudin'ally.

,In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WVILLIAM S. FIX. [L.S.] 

